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Hope you enjoy it Method41. 
Part 4: Going to the Country
1883 was an election year, which meant everything was for play. The unpopular, aging O'Mahoney was well out of it leaving the contest up to two men:
Vice President John Devoy
Devoy was born in Kildare 1842. He had served in the French Foreign Legion in his youth. A member of the IRB from early on he had faced a term in prison in England between 1866 and 1871 and had played a large part in an ambitous, if ultimately unsuccesful attempt to subvert the Irish in the British Army. Upon his release he was exiled to America, where after some time in New York working in journalism he moved to Canada and began his rise.
Devoy a brave, uncorruptable man with a clever way with the written word rose through the ranks swiftly before being chosen by O'Mahoney as his vice-presidential candidate. In fact the general view was that almost the whole of anything good in that second term was thanks to Devoy's energy and intellect.
Devoy had several qualities going for him - he was slightly older than Parnell (though both were very young), had held national office, was a long term Fenian. Most important though was his couragous sacrifice for the cause - for many his former prison status was a badge of honour. He was the Tradtionalist candidate, though he himself had considerable doubts on this platform - instead focusing on a 'new departure' combing the nation building of the Radicals with a firm comitment to the cause.
Upon being asked what he wanted out of North America Devoy had replied with dignity: "genuine democracy and authentic republicanism."
Senator Charles Stewart Parnell
At the dawn of 1883 Parnell was only 36 and seemed to have a great future ahead of him. The Senator had build up a strong phalanx of Radicals around him and was considered a very powerful candiadte, popular with many moderates. In Janurary of that year he announced his attention to run as leader of the new 'Liberal Party' which split off from the more conservative 'Nationalist Party' which announced Devoy as it's candidate.
On the other hand he had no Fenian background, was a Protestant and percieved by some to be too much of a moderate.
Fringe Candidates:
The Nationalist and Liberal Parties were not the only one tempted to try out for election. The Canadian Imperialist Party, that survivor from the Revolution had stayed around during the 70's without making much headway before making a suprise coup in 1878 when no less a figure than the heir to the French throne was persuaded to try his hand in Canada! Napoléon was young, noble and very dashing and the hope was that continuing fondness for his late father (present even within the officially republican Fenians) would score a suprise victory for the CIP.
Napoléon in his manifesto promised both to continue "the gallant culture of Ireland" as the defining factor of Canadian cultural and political life and to appoint himself a parliamentry Emporer.
He was paticularly popular in Quebec, but polls showed he proved suprisingly popular across all classes.
Various minor candiadtes also declared an interest in running including pre-Fenian notable John A. Macdonald on behalf of the pro-British 'Union Party'. None of these candidates were expected to achieve much however, given the stranglehold of the Fenians/Irish on national politics.
Part 4: Going to the Country
1883 was an election year, which meant everything was for play. The unpopular, aging O'Mahoney was well out of it leaving the contest up to two men:
Vice President John Devoy
Above: John Devoy, 1842-1928 (pictured here in 1911)
Devoy was born in Kildare 1842. He had served in the French Foreign Legion in his youth. A member of the IRB from early on he had faced a term in prison in England between 1866 and 1871 and had played a large part in an ambitous, if ultimately unsuccesful attempt to subvert the Irish in the British Army. Upon his release he was exiled to America, where after some time in New York working in journalism he moved to Canada and began his rise.
Devoy a brave, uncorruptable man with a clever way with the written word rose through the ranks swiftly before being chosen by O'Mahoney as his vice-presidential candidate. In fact the general view was that almost the whole of anything good in that second term was thanks to Devoy's energy and intellect.
Devoy had several qualities going for him - he was slightly older than Parnell (though both were very young), had held national office, was a long term Fenian. Most important though was his couragous sacrifice for the cause - for many his former prison status was a badge of honour. He was the Tradtionalist candidate, though he himself had considerable doubts on this platform - instead focusing on a 'new departure' combing the nation building of the Radicals with a firm comitment to the cause.
Upon being asked what he wanted out of North America Devoy had replied with dignity: "genuine democracy and authentic republicanism."
Senator Charles Stewart Parnell
Above: Parnell, from a period newspaper.
At the dawn of 1883 Parnell was only 36 and seemed to have a great future ahead of him. The Senator had build up a strong phalanx of Radicals around him and was considered a very powerful candiadte, popular with many moderates. In Janurary of that year he announced his attention to run as leader of the new 'Liberal Party' which split off from the more conservative 'Nationalist Party' which announced Devoy as it's candidate.
On the other hand he had no Fenian background, was a Protestant and percieved by some to be too much of a moderate.
Fringe Candidates:
Above: Napoléon Eugène, Prince Imperial, the Canadian Imperialist Party (CIP) candidate.
The Nationalist and Liberal Parties were not the only one tempted to try out for election. The Canadian Imperialist Party, that survivor from the Revolution had stayed around during the 70's without making much headway before making a suprise coup in 1878 when no less a figure than the heir to the French throne was persuaded to try his hand in Canada! Napoléon was young, noble and very dashing and the hope was that continuing fondness for his late father (present even within the officially republican Fenians) would score a suprise victory for the CIP.
Napoléon in his manifesto promised both to continue "the gallant culture of Ireland" as the defining factor of Canadian cultural and political life and to appoint himself a parliamentry Emporer.
He was paticularly popular in Quebec, but polls showed he proved suprisingly popular across all classes.
Various minor candiadtes also declared an interest in running including pre-Fenian notable John A. Macdonald on behalf of the pro-British 'Union Party'. None of these candidates were expected to achieve much however, given the stranglehold of the Fenians/Irish on national politics.
This is an interesting concept. I would be happily amused if Napoleon won, but realistically I somewhat expect Devoy to win.
J. Passepartout, Fiftypence and weychun: I see the Prince Imperial is popular! Glad I rescued him from the Zulus.
GhostWriter: Glad you like them. In a way this is a 'safe' election - none of the candidates will wreck the country (or at least automatically wreck the country...)
BTW, the election will probably take 3 chapters - for the situation at the start of the campaign, for the campaign itself, and finally the result and aftermath. I hope people are patient!
Before I go on I'd just like to mention Mettermrck's HoI AAR The United States: 'Advantages without Obligations', which I heartily recomend and inspired me to make the elections a major part of the story.
Part 5: Election '83 - The State of the Candidates
The campaigning season was a long one lasting from November 1882 into August 1883 and was for the most part civil as the candidates scattered to their various headquaters and prepared.
The Canadian system was based on a modified version of the American Electoral College system, meaning a candidate had to grab at least 114 votes. Obviously the two big states of Ontario and Quebec were the golden prizes, having by far the largest population and influence.
The Anglo-Canadians, who had since 1866 been a busted flush in Canadian suprised everyone by picking John A. Macdonald, an unexpectedly strong candidate for the Union Party - something that caused considerable consternation in the other camps. The Anglo-Canadians were by far the largest ethno-cultural group in the country (at almost 51%) and while no one expected Macdonald to win he might draw off as much as a third of this large body of voters - especially vexing for Parnell who was hoping to capatilise on his reputation as a moderate by winning Anglo heavy areas like Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and even Ontario itself against the more strongly Fenian Devoy. Parnell could at least content himself with taking Alberta, his 'home' state and 80% Irish.
Devoy himself was feeling confident; widely seen as the favourite and with the whole machinery of the goverment behind him. In January he succeeded in getting the Nationalist Party to change it's name to the 'Republican Party', widely felt to focus more on the parties strength and distance himself from the uninspried O'Mahoney era. He was widely tipped to take British Columbia with it's large and expanding Irish population (between 1881 and 1883 the % of Irish Canadians rose from 7.8 to 12.5% largely concentrated in the West) and to have a fair chance at taking Ontario, leaving possibly Alberta and the Indian states (populated largely in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the North West Territories) in contest.
Napoléon was almost certain to win Quebec, but few expected him to win anything else. Despite this the dashing Prince Imperial was extremely popular personally and had fallen deeply in love with his adopted homeland, so he was not a man to be underestimated.
The campaigns started in the East, before moving along the half-built Trans-Canadian to the Mid-West, then into the vast, sparsely populated North Western Territories before heading South and East once more. It was a long and torturous route back to Montreal, with the possibility of suprises and upsets before 2nd August 1883...
Glad I rescued him from the Zulus. GhostWriter: Glad you like them. In a way this is a 'safe' election - none of the candidates will wreck the country (or at least automatically wreck the country...)
BTW, the election will probably take 3 chapters - for the situation at the start of the campaign, for the campaign itself, and finally the result and aftermath. I hope people are patient!
Before I go on I'd just like to mention Mettermrck's HoI AAR The United States: 'Advantages without Obligations', which I heartily recomend and inspired me to make the elections a major part of the story.
Part 5: Election '83 - The State of the Candidates
Above: Canada in 1883 showing Electoral votes by State
The campaigning season was a long one lasting from November 1882 into August 1883 and was for the most part civil as the candidates scattered to their various headquaters and prepared.
The Canadian system was based on a modified version of the American Electoral College system, meaning a candidate had to grab at least 114 votes. Obviously the two big states of Ontario and Quebec were the golden prizes, having by far the largest population and influence.
Above: John A. Macdonald. Dark horse candidate, or mere vote spoiler?
The Anglo-Canadians, who had since 1866 been a busted flush in Canadian suprised everyone by picking John A. Macdonald, an unexpectedly strong candidate for the Union Party - something that caused considerable consternation in the other camps. The Anglo-Canadians were by far the largest ethno-cultural group in the country (at almost 51%) and while no one expected Macdonald to win he might draw off as much as a third of this large body of voters - especially vexing for Parnell who was hoping to capatilise on his reputation as a moderate by winning Anglo heavy areas like Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and even Ontario itself against the more strongly Fenian Devoy. Parnell could at least content himself with taking Alberta, his 'home' state and 80% Irish.
Devoy himself was feeling confident; widely seen as the favourite and with the whole machinery of the goverment behind him. In January he succeeded in getting the Nationalist Party to change it's name to the 'Republican Party', widely felt to focus more on the parties strength and distance himself from the uninspried O'Mahoney era. He was widely tipped to take British Columbia with it's large and expanding Irish population (between 1881 and 1883 the % of Irish Canadians rose from 7.8 to 12.5% largely concentrated in the West) and to have a fair chance at taking Ontario, leaving possibly Alberta and the Indian states (populated largely in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the North West Territories) in contest.
Napoléon was almost certain to win Quebec, but few expected him to win anything else. Despite this the dashing Prince Imperial was extremely popular personally and had fallen deeply in love with his adopted homeland, so he was not a man to be underestimated.
The campaigns started in the East, before moving along the half-built Trans-Canadian to the Mid-West, then into the vast, sparsely populated North Western Territories before heading South and East once more. It was a long and torturous route back to Montreal, with the possibility of suprises and upsets before 2nd August 1883...
Hmm, interesting. What will happen if none of the candidates get an overall majority?
Fiftypence said:
Well they represent parties 'in game', so simply whoever gets the highest proportion of votes, which I then try to work out who voted for what in the Electoral system. Of course some places are pretty much a given - unless Napoléon, say, scores very low (like 10% or less) he is going to take Quebec. Same with Parnell and Alberta. If it's very close I'll have it create a constituntional crisis.
For the record there are 3 Conservative parties (Republican, CIP and Union) and 1 Liberal party (Liberals). Partially this is to give the liberals a fighting chance (the electorate is 80% conservative). I've also 'hobbled' the conservatives to stomp one group romping home with 100% of the conservative vote, (the Liberals are hobbled enough being liberal!).
The Republican Party (Devoy), I handed Third Party Status, which gives them a voting penalty.
The Canadian Imperial Party (Napoléon) I made 'Franco-Canadian', so other conservatives will be less likely to vote for them.
The Union Party (Macdonald) I hobbled twice - first I made them Anglo-Canadian. Of course since Anglo-Canadians are 51% of the population that still wasn't enough, so I also made them Third Party.
I think I've managed to create a pretty viable 4 horse race, with no one so far in the lead as to be uncatchable. Not that some of the polls so far haven't been... suprising.
Glad you like it DarkStriker, keep reading!
Oh and if anyone wants to bet on the result, feel free!
Good as always...
NAPOLEON FOR PRESIDENT! Albeit, with France it didn't turn out quite well.
Also, shouldn't British Columbia be renamed (in-story anyway) into "Irish Columbia" or "Canadian Columbia"?
NAPOLEON FOR PRESIDENT! Albeit, with France it didn't turn out quite well.
Also, shouldn't British Columbia be renamed (in-story anyway) into "Irish Columbia" or "Canadian Columbia"?
el presidentse and das: Well we'll see. Oh and I don't remember Napoléon Eugène winning an election in France - must be some other Napoleon you're thinking of...
As for British Columbia... well maybe it should (the Irish are now the largest culture there) but I rather like the name, and it's convienient. Besides even the Yankees kept New England... maybe the Fenians think it would just be seen as petty.
Part 6: Election '83 - The Campaign
It was, the first few months at least, a suprisingly clean campaign, with each candidate carefully refraining from attacking their opponent for fear of coming off as ungentlemanly. This was harder on some candidates than others (naming no names...)
Defence and millitary issues dominated the election - to the intense irritation of the candidates who all had broadly similar views on that subject. As an exasperated Devoy caustically told a reporter: "Sure, haven't you realised we are all playing the same tune yet?"
In March a socialist firebrand caused trouble in Saskatchewan, but to the relief of all involved it seemed an isolated incident and Canada was in no danger of turning red.
Socialist red anyway. British red was another matter. In April Macdonald made an electrifying speech in Nova Scotia where he called on Anglo-Canadians to "seize [their] destiny and democratic rights", demolishing the carefully prepared neutral tone of the Liberal's speech. Parnell was horrified at private polling that showed Nova Scotia and New Brunswick going Union, with a possible threat to Ontario - which would be fatal to his cause. Pulling every spare cent out of the West and North he barnstormed through the swing states detrmined to shore up his wavering cross-community support.
Napoléon on the other hand was experiencing a smooth campaign after a few initial and minor gaffes by the inexperienced candidate. He drew huge crowds in Québec in early '83 where the populace showered him with devotion. This was to be expected in Québec (apart from the talismanic quality of his name, Napoléon was the only candidadte fluent in French), but how would he fair elsewhere?
As it turned out, suprisingly well. In Ontario, surrounded by reporters from the US and Europe (somewhat to his embarrassment and his rivals envy, Napoléon was an international celebraty), he made a convincing reply to criticism of his lack of experience, and won the crowd with his manifest dignity and virtue, which reached across all boundaries - he was by far the most popular candidate with the Indians for instance. Though he lacked the experience of Devoy, the intelligence of Parnell and the energy of Macdonald no one could doubt his fundamental decency. Perhaps his finest hour came during his British Columbia (or simply 'Columba' as some Irish residents had taken to calling it) campaign, when he made his 'Celtic Fraternity' speech, in to the suprise of all, Irish:
"Our two great peoples, the French and The Irish have had a long history of friendship and alliance right through to the war of '66... yet there is an older bond too - that of Catholic, European civilisation, of our common celtic brotherhood. Some of the finest flower of France has Irish blood in them, heirs to the Wild Geese, and I think that we can make a yet greater union here, between our gallant peoples. The French and Irish are both great, yet how much greater together? What a power for civilisation, for peace, for rationalism! Help me build a brotherhood of cultures and people here in Canada..."
Napoléon continued on in heartfelt terms describing his genuine love of Irish culture that had developed since his arrival in Canada, but by then the cheering was getting too loud and he had to give up lest he damage his voice trying to be heard over them.
In July crisis struck the Liberals, when details emerged in the Montreal Chronicle of an affair Parnell was having with a married woman named Kitty O'Shea. The accusations, which were irrefutable was a staggering blow to the Parnell campaign, alienating many Anglo-Canadian Protestants that he was counting on for support. It suddenly seemed like Ontario was in very great danger of falling to Macdonald.
Devoy, after some soul searching, cut short his campaign in British Columbia (a very dangerous move as it was a key state in his strategy) and made a personal and secret appeal to Parnell to swing behind Devoy. Parnell, he pointed out, was clearly finished, but he still had the power to decide who won. If he backed Devoy, the Republican's would probably take Ontario, saving the Irish from disaster. If he didn't and Macdonald took Ontario... well then the Union Party stood a very good chance of pulling of a shock victory, which meant re-entry into the British Empire and the wreckage of all their hopes.
To Devoy's anger Parnell stubbornly refused to concede. He was determined to win the election on his own terms he claimed, and believed it would happen. As a furious Devoy finally gave up and left for his home (he had spent a week begging Parnell to consider the good of the country and no longer had time to start campaigning again in BC) he told the recalitrant one" Well, on your own head be it, but you have a much greater chance now of being Govenor General for Queen Victoria, than President!"
Oh and I don't remember Napoléon Eugène winning an election in France - must be some other Napoleon you're thinking of... As for British Columbia... well maybe it should (the Irish are now the largest culture there) but I rather like the name, and it's convienient. Besides even the Yankees kept New England... maybe the Fenians think it would just be seen as petty.
Part 6: Election '83 - The Campaign
Above: A crowd gathering in Vancouver to see Parnell speaking, 16th July 1883
It was, the first few months at least, a suprisingly clean campaign, with each candidate carefully refraining from attacking their opponent for fear of coming off as ungentlemanly. This was harder on some candidates than others (naming no names...)
Defence and millitary issues dominated the election - to the intense irritation of the candidates who all had broadly similar views on that subject. As an exasperated Devoy caustically told a reporter: "Sure, haven't you realised we are all playing the same tune yet?"
In March a socialist firebrand caused trouble in Saskatchewan, but to the relief of all involved it seemed an isolated incident and Canada was in no danger of turning red.
Socialist red anyway. British red was another matter. In April Macdonald made an electrifying speech in Nova Scotia where he called on Anglo-Canadians to "seize [their] destiny and democratic rights", demolishing the carefully prepared neutral tone of the Liberal's speech. Parnell was horrified at private polling that showed Nova Scotia and New Brunswick going Union, with a possible threat to Ontario - which would be fatal to his cause. Pulling every spare cent out of the West and North he barnstormed through the swing states detrmined to shore up his wavering cross-community support.
Napoléon on the other hand was experiencing a smooth campaign after a few initial and minor gaffes by the inexperienced candidate. He drew huge crowds in Québec in early '83 where the populace showered him with devotion. This was to be expected in Québec (apart from the talismanic quality of his name, Napoléon was the only candidadte fluent in French), but how would he fair elsewhere?
As it turned out, suprisingly well. In Ontario, surrounded by reporters from the US and Europe (somewhat to his embarrassment and his rivals envy, Napoléon was an international celebraty), he made a convincing reply to criticism of his lack of experience, and won the crowd with his manifest dignity and virtue, which reached across all boundaries - he was by far the most popular candidate with the Indians for instance. Though he lacked the experience of Devoy, the intelligence of Parnell and the energy of Macdonald no one could doubt his fundamental decency. Perhaps his finest hour came during his British Columbia (or simply 'Columba' as some Irish residents had taken to calling it) campaign, when he made his 'Celtic Fraternity' speech, in to the suprise of all, Irish:
"Our two great peoples, the French and The Irish have had a long history of friendship and alliance right through to the war of '66... yet there is an older bond too - that of Catholic, European civilisation, of our common celtic brotherhood. Some of the finest flower of France has Irish blood in them, heirs to the Wild Geese, and I think that we can make a yet greater union here, between our gallant peoples. The French and Irish are both great, yet how much greater together? What a power for civilisation, for peace, for rationalism! Help me build a brotherhood of cultures and people here in Canada..."
Napoléon continued on in heartfelt terms describing his genuine love of Irish culture that had developed since his arrival in Canada, but by then the cheering was getting too loud and he had to give up lest he damage his voice trying to be heard over them.
Above: Kitty O'Shea
In July crisis struck the Liberals, when details emerged in the Montreal Chronicle of an affair Parnell was having with a married woman named Kitty O'Shea. The accusations, which were irrefutable was a staggering blow to the Parnell campaign, alienating many Anglo-Canadian Protestants that he was counting on for support. It suddenly seemed like Ontario was in very great danger of falling to Macdonald.
Devoy, after some soul searching, cut short his campaign in British Columbia (a very dangerous move as it was a key state in his strategy) and made a personal and secret appeal to Parnell to swing behind Devoy. Parnell, he pointed out, was clearly finished, but he still had the power to decide who won. If he backed Devoy, the Republican's would probably take Ontario, saving the Irish from disaster. If he didn't and Macdonald took Ontario... well then the Union Party stood a very good chance of pulling of a shock victory, which meant re-entry into the British Empire and the wreckage of all their hopes.
To Devoy's anger Parnell stubbornly refused to concede. He was determined to win the election on his own terms he claimed, and believed it would happen. As a furious Devoy finally gave up and left for his home (he had spent a week begging Parnell to consider the good of the country and no longer had time to start campaigning again in BC) he told the recalitrant one" Well, on your own head be it, but you have a much greater chance now of being Govenor General for Queen Victoria, than President!"
Well that's interesting. Parnell seems to be more or less out of the running, and if Napoleon takes Quebec and MacDonald takes Ontario then there is no way Devoy could win.
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Hmmm, this looks very very interesting, perhaps a historical election. Napoleon has a much better chance of winning than I had thought. But indeed, an election that will be studied in political science classes for another century, I think.
Fiftypence said:Well that's interesting. Parnell seems to be more or less out of the running, and if Napoleon takes Quebec and MacDonald takes Ontario then there is no way Devoy could win.
what would be interesting is for MacDonald to win and then improve Canada even more than his opponents would have!
Fiftypence: Could be. Alas Parnell's stubborness (and adultery) is historical...
J. Passepartout : I should think so! And what is the rest of the world thinking watching this, I wonder...
Mettermrck: Thanks. Also thank you for your US AAR, which partially inspired me.
GhostWriter: You think? Macdonald did win historically, which would seem to defeat the purpose of this AAR (especially as, realistically, he would revert to being a pro-British Dominion, inside the Empire).
Part 7: Election '83 - And the winner is...
While the parties wound down their campaigns in July, there were several attempts to disrupt the process by women demanding the vote. Fortunatly the forces of law and order were able to prevent these few extremists and allow democracy to carry on it's natural path.
Gathered in Montreal with their respective underlings, sycophants and hatchetmen the four candidates gathered in Montreal in the last week of July to await the results of the vote, which should be known by 2nd August. They shared an uneasy public dinner on the 27th July, cutting distinctive figures - Parnell, withdrawn and inscrutable; Devoy, depressed and talkative, Napoléon, still dazzled to be there at all and Macdonald, solemn and dignified. After some polite talk and a fine French meal Devoy and Napoléon found themselves sharing cigars and brandy in the Arcadian Club (the most prestigous gentlemens club in Montreal of which all candiates had been offered membership. Parnell had vanished hours earlier and Macdonald, with stern Puritan control had retired early, leaving just the Republican and the Imperialist with each others company.
"Tell me, your Majesty," asked Devoy striking up a conversation as he selected a second cigar, "did you mean what you said about a union of our two peoples?"
"Qui Monsieur Devoy," said the young prince, his accent showing as he spoke enthusiastically in English, "I have read the great legends and poems of your people. I firmly believe that we shall be yet greater combined here in Canada - the Irish, the French and the Anglo's. I am not interested in forgetting the cause of Ireland - once I took up the invitation to run, it became my cause too - but I think Irish cause and the Canadian cause are one. Look at the Americans to our South! In a short time they have forged Anglo-Saxon and Frenchman, Dutch and Spanish, German and Pole into one identity. Can we not do the same here?"
Devoy did not reply for a while, simply enjoying his cigar. Eventually however he spoke again to the younger man: "Have you worked out who you'll take for you're Cabinet if you win?"
The Prince Imperial nodded, "Largely. The party has drawn up a constitution we'll put to the House if I win. Canada will be a Parliamenty Monarchy - like Germany. Of course I will need a capable Prime Minister... someone of dignity and capability who I can trust to tell me when I'm wrong and stay in touch with the people..."
"Anyone in mind?"
The prince looked shy for a moment, swirling his brandy glass in his hand, before looking at Devoy, a faint blush on cheeks. "Actually, I was thinking of asking you."
Devoy blinked at him in other astonishment. Then he laughed long and hard, till he began choking on cigar smoke. After waving away offers of help he regained sufficent control to grin at Napoléon a little weakly.
"What can I say your Majesty? I'll sleep on it."
As the two men shook hands and left for their lodgings Devoy gave the younger man a cheerful farewell: "May the best man win your Majesty," and feeling happier than he had in weeks he walked home, enjoying the cool night air.
Napoléon Eugène, Canadian Imperialist Party (CIP) : 610,500 votes, 102 Electoral
John A. Macdonald, Unionist Party (UP) : 412,500 votes, 99 Electoral
John Devoy, Republican Party (RP) : 346,500 votes, 13 Electoral
Charles Stewart Parnell, Liberal Party (LP) : 264,000 votes, 14 Electoral
In the end it was closer than anyone expected as the votes flooded in on 2nd August. Quebec as expected, went early and strongly for Napoléon, followed swiftly by New Brunswick and Nova Scotia for Macdonald. That was pretty much the end for Parnell who had been counting till the end on attracting sufficent Anglo-Canadian voters, but it hadn't worked - in fact it backfired badly as the exact number of votes came in (in the end only loyal Alberta would end up endorsing him). The now three horse race continued, with Manitoba falling to Devoy in the evening. The real struggle though was over Ontario which went on with nail biting tension, till suddenly, at just past 10 o'clock it was declared for Macdonald.
A dissapointed Devoy threw in the towel, but remained at the count anxiously watching developments - the question on everyone's lips was this: would Macdonald score a shock victory and turn back the clock?
Then suddenly the tide shifted again and a raft of states declared for Napoléon: British Columbia (with it's heavy Irish population, a Devoy target), Saskatchewan and the North West Territories. Like wildfire the incredible news spread through the city.
By 37% of the vote, and the slimest of Electoral votes Napoléon Eugène had won.
J. Passepartout : I should think so! And what is the rest of the world thinking watching this, I wonder...
Mettermrck: Thanks.
Also thank you for your US AAR, which partially inspired me.GhostWriter: You think?
Macdonald did win historically, which would seem to defeat the purpose of this AAR (especially as, realistically, he would revert to being a pro-British Dominion, inside the Empire).Part 7: Election '83 - And the winner is...
Above: Despite the general good humour of the election certain freethinking malcontents insted on being heard.
While the parties wound down their campaigns in July, there were several attempts to disrupt the process by women demanding the vote. Fortunatly the forces of law and order were able to prevent these few extremists and allow democracy to carry on it's natural path.
Gathered in Montreal with their respective underlings, sycophants and hatchetmen the four candidates gathered in Montreal in the last week of July to await the results of the vote, which should be known by 2nd August. They shared an uneasy public dinner on the 27th July, cutting distinctive figures - Parnell, withdrawn and inscrutable; Devoy, depressed and talkative, Napoléon, still dazzled to be there at all and Macdonald, solemn and dignified. After some polite talk and a fine French meal Devoy and Napoléon found themselves sharing cigars and brandy in the Arcadian Club (the most prestigous gentlemens club in Montreal of which all candiates had been offered membership. Parnell had vanished hours earlier and Macdonald, with stern Puritan control had retired early, leaving just the Republican and the Imperialist with each others company.
"Tell me, your Majesty," asked Devoy striking up a conversation as he selected a second cigar, "did you mean what you said about a union of our two peoples?"
"Qui Monsieur Devoy," said the young prince, his accent showing as he spoke enthusiastically in English, "I have read the great legends and poems of your people. I firmly believe that we shall be yet greater combined here in Canada - the Irish, the French and the Anglo's. I am not interested in forgetting the cause of Ireland - once I took up the invitation to run, it became my cause too - but I think Irish cause and the Canadian cause are one. Look at the Americans to our South! In a short time they have forged Anglo-Saxon and Frenchman, Dutch and Spanish, German and Pole into one identity. Can we not do the same here?"
Devoy did not reply for a while, simply enjoying his cigar. Eventually however he spoke again to the younger man: "Have you worked out who you'll take for you're Cabinet if you win?"
The Prince Imperial nodded, "Largely. The party has drawn up a constitution we'll put to the House if I win. Canada will be a Parliamenty Monarchy - like Germany. Of course I will need a capable Prime Minister... someone of dignity and capability who I can trust to tell me when I'm wrong and stay in touch with the people..."
"Anyone in mind?"
The prince looked shy for a moment, swirling his brandy glass in his hand, before looking at Devoy, a faint blush on cheeks. "Actually, I was thinking of asking you."
Devoy blinked at him in other astonishment. Then he laughed long and hard, till he began choking on cigar smoke. After waving away offers of help he regained sufficent control to grin at Napoléon a little weakly.
"What can I say your Majesty? I'll sleep on it."
As the two men shook hands and left for their lodgings Devoy gave the younger man a cheerful farewell: "May the best man win your Majesty," and feeling happier than he had in weeks he walked home, enjoying the cool night air.
Above: Election 1883, the results by state
Napoléon Eugène, Canadian Imperialist Party (CIP) : 610,500 votes, 102 Electoral
John A. Macdonald, Unionist Party (UP) : 412,500 votes, 99 Electoral
John Devoy, Republican Party (RP) : 346,500 votes, 13 Electoral
Charles Stewart Parnell, Liberal Party (LP) : 264,000 votes, 14 Electoral
In the end it was closer than anyone expected as the votes flooded in on 2nd August. Quebec as expected, went early and strongly for Napoléon, followed swiftly by New Brunswick and Nova Scotia for Macdonald. That was pretty much the end for Parnell who had been counting till the end on attracting sufficent Anglo-Canadian voters, but it hadn't worked - in fact it backfired badly as the exact number of votes came in (in the end only loyal Alberta would end up endorsing him). The now three horse race continued, with Manitoba falling to Devoy in the evening. The real struggle though was over Ontario which went on with nail biting tension, till suddenly, at just past 10 o'clock it was declared for Macdonald.
A dissapointed Devoy threw in the towel, but remained at the count anxiously watching developments - the question on everyone's lips was this: would Macdonald score a shock victory and turn back the clock?
Then suddenly the tide shifted again and a raft of states declared for Napoléon: British Columbia (with it's heavy Irish population, a Devoy target), Saskatchewan and the North West Territories. Like wildfire the incredible news spread through the city.
By 37% of the vote, and the slimest of Electoral votes Napoléon Eugène had won.
I love it, the two supposed "fringe" candidates get the most votes! I'm surprised that Devoy did so badly, but he still get's to be PM so it's not all bad I suppose.
RossN said:GhostWriter: You think?
Napoléon Eugène, Canadian Imperialist Party (CIP) : 610,500 votes, 102 Electoral
John A. MacDonald, Unionist Party (UP) : 412,500 votes, 99 Electoral
John Devoy, Republican Party (RP) : 346,500 votes, 13 Electoral
Charles Stewart Parnell, Liberal Party (LP) : 264,000 votes, 14 Electoral
By 37% of the vote, and the slimest of Electoral votes Napoléon Eugène had won.
Ahhh. but that is the beauty of an AAR. it is NOT real life!
also, in the AAR you have the Irish invasion/conquest. that alone changes things BIG time... fascinating update!